Blizzcon 2013 Plans - Maghda!

Although tickets haven't been sold, and therefore I can't definitely say I'm going yet... I better considering I already have started a costume >.>

And yes, I know I never actually finished my Diablo wizard costume, but I've found a new love.  Maghda.  She's so freakin beautiful.  Also, green and purple... it's like this costume was made for me!  My favourite colours all rolled in one.  And luna moth shoulders!  ^_^d

So, here's a pic of her in game:

Seeing as though it's 8 months away and I've already started, I'm pretty sure I can get this one done in plenty of time, as long as I don't procrastinate.  Hence me writing in the blog again - this is one way where I feel some sort of accountability to continually work, even if my readership is like 2.  ;p

So... here's my progress so far!

I decided the bodice part should be a corset... and without knowing anything about corset making, I turned to the place I turn to learn anything these days - the internet, more specifically - youtube.  From that, I've made my own pattern (by wrapping by dressform with duct tape and then cutting it out!):

Which then transferred to the lining layer:

All in all, my corset will be 48 pieces.  16 pieces for each of the 3 layers (lining, strength layer, and the outer layer).

I'm currently waiting to visit my inlaws because I had the metal boning for the corset shipped to their US address to avoid extra shipping costs.  I'm also waiting for a local place to get in more eyelets (the metal holes for lacing the corset in the back) in black.  So, I've done about as much as I can do on that currently.

Here's the outer layers.  Keep in mind this is without the boning or anything tying it together =(

I also started the skirt thing:

The bottom trim is hollow.  I'm thinking of putting something in it so it flares out like Maghda's.  It's already a flowy material, but I want to give it more outward body when I'm standing still too.

I don't like the "waviness" of the front vertical trims, so I might redo that, putting a layer of interfacing under the light purple to stiffen it up.  I guess that's a pro of doing things this early! (I have more time to redo things I don't love).

Those boots/heels are for this. They'll be painted white.  Also, don't mind the front of the skirt belt thing - that'll get properly finished.

:(

I'm currently in the airport posting this from my phone. My update is that I suck and wasnt able to complete it to a satisfactory level. It's about 90 percent done, but Im not content with that last 10 percent not done. also, my sewing machine began malfunctioning around 5am. Oh ya, I didn't sleep :/ what a waste. I suck

Next year, this costume will be mind blowingly perfect since I have a year to do 10 percent and perfect the rest

Did I mention how much I suck? :(

P.s. check my Flickr if you want to see a few pics I took from my phone this morning of progress I did last night ._.

One last update before blizzcon

The only reason I'm updating is because I'm on supper break at work.  Sadly I work until like 8pm or so tonight, cutting a couple hours of work time off.  I honestly don't know if I can get this done this year... see my to-do list for progress.

However, here are some update pics that I took on my phone (hence the junkier quality).

Below are accent pieces (for the boot capes, head piece, cape, etc), mostly made out of craft foam.  Heated to reshape, backed with fabric/glue, and coated with sealing mixture, and then texturized with fabric paint.  These are all painted now, but I don't have a picture of them completed.  oops.







The gems in the last picture are homemade (/jewelcraftinglevelled); they're more purply in real life though.

Here's the base of my shoulder (thank goodness that isn't plural!):



And finally, here's the painted staff head. Yes, the sphere does illuminate. Big props to my friend Mark who's been helping a ton, specially with the staff and cape accents.




And I got my official Blizzard email saying that I did NOT get into the contest this year as more than 100 people were eligible before me. I'm supposed to check in at 2pm to see if enough people cancelled so as I get in. I don't know how far I am down the waiting list. =( Well, if I don't get it this year, I can always enter this costume next year too. We'll see!

I still don't even know if I can finish ._.

Wish me luck!!!

i'm going to die =(

2 more nights... and I really would like to sleep the night before we leave this time =(

Sorry no picture updates... too busy working...

Also, I'm not in the contest this year, unless enough people who got accepted back out ._.

Lots of partial progress, nothing done =(

Too lazy to write much of an introduction to this entry, so here's just what's had progress in the last couple days:

"Boot Capes"

Here's the frame for them, out of my favourite material to work with lately: craft foam.

Sorry, dark picture is dark... but you can see how I am making these capes.  The tan fabric is then wrapped around the back and tucked into a second craft foam frame, making a finished edge on the inside and out.

Sadly, this process was pretty dangerous with the amount of hot glue I used on the inside and I ended up burning my finger.  QQ

 

Staff

The staff has now been carved and paper mached.  Big thanks to my friend who's been helping out with that as I fight with craft foam!

The plan is still for the globe in the middle to light up!

Oh, and I found something that could work for the orb.  I thought finding clearish plastic balls would be easy, but it's been the hardest material to find yet.  I did find this Christmas ornament though; however, I'll have to sand off all the sparkle crap that's on it before I can paint it!

Cape Details

My friend is a genius and found this technique using insulation foam and my newly purchased heat gun to tame down carved edges.  It looks fantastic!  Just have to make a ton more and prime and paint them...

These will also have gems in them (not light up though).  Gems that I'm making myself! =O  /jewelcraftinglevelling

Craft Foam Fun

Here are the wing things that go off of the headpiece.  The ones on the right are ones that I warmed up over the stove to reshape.  They'll be stiffened, textured, and painted.

I'm also working on those metal-looking pieces on the boot cape out of craft foam. 

So much to do....  ugh...

Did I mention I caught a cold? =(

My Less-than-a-week-to-go To-do List =(

Okay, I'm beginning to panic and not sleep in order to get more done.  Like last year, here's my to-do list that hopefully I can cross of multiple things each day =(

Hair:
-make hair accessories
-cut and style

Headpiece:
-make
-paint

Neckpiece

Shoulder:
-make
-paint

Staff:
-finish carving
-paper mache
-paint
-figure out lighting
-make in 2-3 pieces attach/detach

Orb
-paint
-lighting

Chest piece:
-stitching details

Jacket:
-beading details
-finish sleeve gold accents

Skirt:
-stitching details

Belts:
-finish making
-buckle

-attachments: scrolls, cape

Cape:
-make rugged
-detailing accents
-gems

Boots:
-foot pieces
-boot capes
-boot bracers (with lighting)
-gems for bracers
-accents

Bracers

Other:
-get tights
-practice tattoo makeup

Goodbye Brain Cells =(

So, I've been pretty much working with contact cement all day.  I have such a killer headache as a result =(

Sadly, I didn't get nearly as much accomplished today as I was hoping - this piece took a whole lot longer than expected.  I spent almost all of today working on the collar of the vest - that piece that kind of looks crown-ish but is attached to the jacket collar.

I made the base out of craft foam (see last post's pictures) and also used more foam bits to give it some texture.

I used the contact cement to adhere fabric onto the foam.  The first side worked well since I could just fold over the fabric and glue it (this is where a big time sink is as I had to snip and notch the edges so they could fold over properly).

For the second side, I just cut out a piece that fit it exactly; I just hope the glue holds in the edges from fraying =/  I'll cross that bridge when it comes I guess.

Also, INPUT PLEASE:  I hollowed out the holes on the top of the collar, and I'm thinking of filling in with hot glue to give a translucent-gemlike look (and I need something light for this).  I was thinking of some sort of cellophane, but I thought of doing it this way.  Thoughts?  Does it look okay?  Another option is leaving it entirely empty.  Picture of glued centre and empty centre: